Easy to open package

ABSTRACT

Method of manufacturing a package of the type formed from a single-layer or multilayer material sheet, where said package has an easy to open feature, where the sheet is shaped into the finished package having an inner side suitable to be in contact with the matter to be packaged and an outer side, comprising the following method steps: forming the film into a tube, by connecting the two side edges of the sheet longitudinally; where the connection creates a side flap ( 10 ) on the outside of the tube or where the tube is passed over a former having a projecting fin, whereby a side flap is formed on the outside of the tube; where cross seals ( 3, 4 ) are provided across the tube, thereby delimiting each package between two cross seals; that perforation lines ( 25 ) are established in said cross seals, for detaching/separating two adjacent packages; that a perforation ( 7 ) of one material layer is established, parallel to and adjacent the side flap, extending from the perforation line towards or into the cross seal.

This application claims the benefit of Danish Application No. PA 200800247 filed Feb. 22, 2008, Danish Application No. PA 2008 01386 filedOct. 3, 2008 and PCT/DK2009/000045 filed Feb. 20, 2009, which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forthherein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a package ofthe type formed from a single-layer or multi-layer material sheet aswell as a form, fill and seal machine (FFS machine) and further apackage produced on such an FFS machine according to the presentinvention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the art FFS machines are widely used in connection with packaging ofa wide variety of goods, in particular food stuffs, candy and a host ofother objects. Basically, an FFS machine operates by being fed amaterial sheet which by a former in the machine is shaped into a tube byattaching the two side edges of the sheet to each other continuously asthe sheet is fed into the machine. Means for creating end seals, withinthis application referred to as cross seals are provided furtherdownstream in the machine such that the tube is delimited laterally tothe tube's longitudinal direction after which the so delimited tube isfilled with the object to be packaged and again provided with and endseal laterally to the tube's longitudinal direction. In this manner avery cheap expedient and reliable package is created at a minimum cost.The material sheets are usually polymer-based and may be provided withprinting such that information about the object inside the package isconveyed to the user.

These types of packages are well-known in the art and are used everydayby most consumers. Examples on various embodiments and machines used inthe production process are disclosed in WO 03045816, US2007269146,EP176908, EP1746043, EP 1026077, WO 2007/106916, JP10305806, WO2004002835 and numerous others.

An example of a method to manufacture such packages is known from U.S.Pat. No. 5,337,539. According to the disclosed method, a material web isshaped into a V-shape or trough shape. At this stage three differentembodiments are disclosed. In a first embodiment, cross seals are made,i.e. the sides of the web are united in order to form pockets, which arethen filled with the material or goods is placed in the package. In thesecond embodiment, the material or goods is placed in the bottom of theV or trough on the web, after which the free side edges of the web arejoined/sealed to form a tube. A folding of the free ends extending fromthe seal forming the tube, is performed. Finally cross, seals,delimiting each package from the next are formed. In the thirdembodiment the tube is shaped about a VFF filler tube, such that thetube forming seal uniting the webs side edges is formed together with across seal, at such a rate that the tube relative to the filler tubewill be open upwards, but limited by a cross seal downwards. Thisdocument does not provide any means for easing the opening of thepackage.

One problem arising with this type of well-known packaging is thesituation where the consumer or user has to open the package. Usually,the longitudinal connection between the two side edges of the materialseat are welded together whereby a side flap is created, and where theside flap coincides with the end seals it becomes a natural point wherea consumer will attempt to open the package in order to gain access tothe interior. The seals are usually created by welding the polymermaterials together such that a relatively strong connection is createdboth in the end seal and the side flap which when attempting to open thepackage requires a substantial force such that during opening the usermay tear the package apart and spill the contents.

In this connection attempts has been made to design the welds such thata desired opening force is required. This in turn requires that thesurfaces to be welded together have certain characteristics, allowingwelding/fusion. For example foils for use in wrapping/packaging itemssuch as candy usually have a plurality of layers. Typically a layer onwhich pictures, text and the like is printed, will be covered by a thinprotective layer. Layer thicknesses are typically in the range of 5-60μ,such that the overall foil is the sum of the different layerthicknesses. Other layers such as layers exhibiting uni-directiontearing and/or barrier layers etc may be added. These layers allexhibits different characteristics and together provides the foil withthe desired characteristics, also when it comes to welding/fusion. Whenthese types of multilayered foils are used in FFS machines (bothhorizontal and vertical) it is often the outer side which has to beunited with the inner side. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,985 these aspects aredisclosed. Therefore in addition to have the desired qualities (barrier,print etc) the foils shall also be mutually weldable/fusionable.

In order to avoid this, different solutions have been proposed. One suchsolution is to provide a small cut, through all material layers, saidcut being arranged in the end seal in the longitudinal direction butlimited to a few millimetres into the end seal such that a tearinitiator is created whereby e.g. a corner of the package may relativelyeasily be torn off. See various examples in JP 10250764, JP 2003191965,WO 9216431 and JP2004182267. In some of these examples the tearingaction is helped along by further providing a tear line in the shape ofa cut going partly through a foil layer along where the opening isintended to be, or providing a tape, see for example JP 10250764 suchthat as the tape is pulled it will tear the foil. This in turn creates,in most cases a relatively limited opening, but also in some casesdepending on the manner in which the corner is torn off and the materialfrom which the package is manufactured a situation which may ruin thepackage in the same manner as already described above, see for exampleU.S. Pat. No. 5,826,985.

Common for these two types of openings is the fact that once the packagehas been torn apart it is impossible to reseal the package if the entirecontent is not to be used.

For these purposes a number of solutions have been proposed, e.g. byincorporating resealable zippers into the material adjacent the endseal. This, however, is a relatively costly process and also requiresthat the size of the package remains relatively constant even after partof the content has been removed.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method andapparatus and a package alleviating the problems mentioned above andproviding further advantages particularly relating to a cheap, reliablemanner of providing an opening in a package of the type mentioned abovewhere the package may be opened without having to use so much force thatthe user risks destroying the entire package in the process.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention addresses this by providing a method of manufacturing apackage of the type formed from a single-layer or multi-layer materialsheet, where said package has an easy to open feature, where the sheetis shaped into the finished package having an inner side suitable to bein contact with the matter to be packaged and an outer side, comprisingthe following method steps:

-   -   forming the sheet into a tube, by connecting the two side edges        of the sheet longitudinally;    -   where the connection creates a side flap on the outside of the        tube or where the tube is passed over a former having a        projecting fin, whereby a side flap is formed on the outside of        the tube;    -   where cross seals are provided across the tube, thereby        delimiting each package between two cross seals;    -   that perforation lines are established in or in between said        cross seals, for detaching/separating two adjacent packages;    -   that a perforation of one sheet or one or more layers making up        the sheet, is established adjacent side flap or fin, extending        from the perforation line and parallel to, or at an angle up to        60° relative to the side flap or fin, and extending towards or        into the cross seal.

Initially, it should be noted that the filling stage of the package hasbeen left out as it is well-known in the art depending on the make ofthe machine to introduce products into this type of packages during theprocess of forming the package. The present invention is independent ofthe type of device used to fill the packages and is only concerned withproviding novel features for opening of the finished package.

This is achieved by particularly the last method step, namely theperforation of one material layer adjacent the side flap. Theperforation will extend from the edge of the perforation line and asmall distance towards or into the cross seal, parallel to the side flapsuch that as a user holds the package in one hand and pulls the sideflap at the edge with the other hand, the perforation will provide aweak spot which will initiate the tearing of the material such that itis very easy to tear open the material and thereby gain access to theinterior of the package without destroying said package. Repeated testshave clearly shown that a very easy opening is provided, and that theopening is well defined, and limited to the desired section of thepackage.

The perforation of one material layer only is distinctly different fromthe solution proposed above where a cut through all material layers inthe cross seal in that had the perforation gone through the materiallayers, the package material on both sides of the package would havebeen torn at the same time thereby risking destroying the packagealtogether. By limiting the perforation to only penetrate one materiallayer the tearing action by a user on the side flap will create arelatively clean tear opening in the package without destroying thepackage altogether.

In the art distinction is made between the manner in which this type ofpackages are manufactured. If the contents are inserted in the packageas it is being shaped in a vertical position, it is known as a verticalform, fill and seal machine. Consequently when the contents areintroduced horizontally it is known as a horizontal form, fill and sealmachine. For the purposes of the present invention, both types ofmachines may be used, and has so with equal success.

Furthermore, the manner in which the seals are made which are createdduring the formation of the sheet material into a package, distinctionis made between two main types: lap seals and fin seals. Lap seals arecreated by simply overlaying one sheet over the other and welding,gluing or otherwise connect the two sheets. In this manner two differentsides of the sheet will be connected—what is to be the inner side of thepackage with what will be the outer side of the package. When using finseals, the sides of the sheets are connected, inner side to inner side,whereby a flap or fin is created.

Within the scope of the present invention the manner of sealing has noeffect on the invention, as long as a fin or flap is provided. For thesereasons it is foreseen that means are provided in situations where lapsseals are used, or where the fin seal creates a fin/flap in a positionwhere it is not desirable to open the package. The flap may be createdby a former tool, or may be provided as a separate piece of sheetmaterial adhesively or welded onto the outside of the tube.

In this connection it is also important to realise what is meant withthe formulation “a single-layer or multi-layer material sheet”. In theart, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,985 it is common to use sheetsmade up of a number of different layers, each layer having uniquecharacteristics, such that the finished sheet, has been created in orderto possess specific features for the designated purpose. As examples oflayers can be mentioned layers which may only be ripped in onedirection, layers with a special coating, for example metal in order torender the layer vapour tight, UV protective layers, barriers etc. etc.With respect to the present invention the composition of the sheet isnot important, but in some embodiments of the invention it may besufficient in order to achieve the desired effect, that the perforationextends through some of the material layers making up the sheetmaterial.

Particularly when lasers are used in combination with PE, CPP or PPcontaining material layers, it is important to realise that it is onlynecessary to perforate some layers. This is due to the fact that inorder to laser cut these materials relatively high energy lasers arerequired, whereas other sheet material requires substantially less laserenergy. As the same rip-effect is achieved, as described above, it isadvantageous only to perforate layers not requiring high intensitylasers, both for energy consumption reasons, cost of lasers, and alsoproduction speed which is lower when sufficient energy has to beconveyed to PE, CPP and PP materials in order to perforate these.

The orientation of the perforation, i.e. between parallel to the flap upto and including an angle of 60°, will, depending on the sheetconstruction, facilitate the desired effect. This is due to the factthat the perforation when exposed to tearing by pulling the flap, willguide the crack forming towards the flap, which will be welded andthereby constitute a stronger construction than the sheet material. Whenthe crack encounters the flap, even from an angle of 60°, the crack willfollow the flap, and thereby provide the desired inventive effect.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the novel and inventive methodthe perforation of the one sheet material layer is made either in:

-   -   an un-sealed part of one sheet material projecting between the        cross seal and the perforation line separating two adjacent        packages;    -   or in the unsealed part and part of the cross seal;    -   or where the cross seal is immediately adjacent the perforation        line between two adjacent packages, only in the cross seal.

By limiting the perforation to be situated in a cross seal, the freesheet ends or a combination, the volume in which the goods inside thepackage are contained is still sealed off and thereby not exposed to theambient.

In a further advantageous embodiment the material sheet is a polymermaterial sheet where seals and connections are created by heat fusing orwelding. This is the most common type of materials used for the vastmajority of packages manufactured from sheet materials. The heat fusingor welding provides reliable and strong seals such that a good, firmpackage is provided naturally depending on the choice of sheet material,but usually the welded portions will be stronger than the sheet materialas such.

Alternative sheet materials are addressed in the further advantageousembodiment wherein the material is a non-weldable or non heat-fusionablematerial, where seals and connections are created by applying adhesivesbetween material surfaces to be joined in order to create the seals,where the material is selected from one or more of the following: coatedor uncoated cellulose based materials, polymeric films, aluminum basedsheets. In this connection it is known to use e.g. paper sheet materialwhich on one side, namely the side intended to be in contact with theproducts to be packaged, is provided with a polymer coating such that intheory a seal could be created by welding, but due to the nature of theover-all sheet material, namely paper, it is necessary to use anadhesive in order to create the seals.

When this process is used in e.g. so-called vertical FFS-machines thesheet material is formed into a tube around a pipe or former, which pipeat the same time is used for filling the material to be packaged intothe package. Here the edge sections of the material sheet are overlaidand depending on the type of sheet material, welded or glued togetherwhere the filling pipe may be used as a land, i.e. as a back support forthe welding wheel. In these instances no side flap is created andtherefore the invention in a further advantageous embodiment is providedwith two rollers such that, as the side flap, created by having passedthe fin in the alternative embodiment mentioned above the side flap isexposed to heat or heat and/or pressure exerted by two rollers arrangedon either side of the side flap and biased towards said side flap. Inthis manner a side flap is created although the traditionalmanufacturing of packages of this type does not require a side fin, butdue to the advantageous opening procedure incorporating the perforationaccording to the present invention a side flap is desirable, andtherefore the fin on the filling pipe is provided in cooperation withthe side rollers.

In order to create the perforation a perforation tool is provided wherethe perforation tool may be selected between one or more of thefollowing:

-   -   a cutter or a rotating cutter head, controlled in relation to        the production speed, where the cutter head has a plurality of        spaced cutting edges, cooperating with a land, where the land is        placed such that the material passes between the cutter and the        land, whereby activation of the cutter establishes the        perforation in the material, which material during cutting is in        contact with said land;        -   a laser device;        -   where the positioning of the perforation is located relative            to markers provided on the sheet material, corresponding to            the desired package size, where means are provided for            detecting said markers and using this information as input            for activating the perforation tool.

In this connection it is vital that only one material layer is cut asalready explained above such that the easy and reliable tear open of thepackage may be achieved without ruining the package and therefore theland is provided in cooperation with the cutter such that the land isplaced behind the material and the cutter on the opposite side such thatwhen the cutter is operated. The land will hinder it from going furtherinto the materials.

Using a laser device for either cutting or engraving the perforations isa well-known technology. It is known in the art to operate lasers suchthat they only penetrate a certain, very small distance into a material.This may further be enhanced by providing a coating on the inside of thematerials, such that the laser device will detect different materialcharacteristics and thereby delimit the depth of the penetration of thelaser to that particular material layer, whereby it becomes possible tovery efficiently perforate only one layer of the package material at thecross seals.

In order to locate the perforations in the cross seals at relativelyhigh production speeds the package material is usually provided withindications intended to be present on each package such as e.g. barcodes, printing, print markers or the like. These markers may be used asdetection points for e.g. a photo cell such that the recognition of themarker passing the photo cell will be used as input for the perforationtool which may be arranged downstream from the photo cell and activatedin response to the detection of a marker. In this manner verywell-proven technology which in some cases are already present in themachine may be further utilized in order to be used as input for theperforation tool thereby providing the perforation in the exact, correctpositions relative to the separating lines.

In order to be able to perform the inventive method according to thepresent invention the invention also discloses a form, fill and sealmachine for forming packages, where said machine comprises means toconvey a continuous sheet material through the machine, and where saidmachine comprises means for creating at least one side flap on thepackage and where said machine further comprises means for establishingsealed cross zones extending substantially laterally to the side flapand means for establishing separating lines, where said separating linesare established in said cross zones wherein the sealed cross zones haveat least a two material layer thickness, characterised in that themachine comprises a perforation tool which perforation tool perforatesone of the two material layers adjacent and parallel to said side flap,and where the perforation extends inside said sealed cross zone, andthat the perforation at least extends to the separating lines.

Although the invention will be described for a so-called in-lineproduction method, the invention is also suitable for batch wiseproductions.

In-line implies that the packaging material is feed into a packagingmachine in one end and that a finished package containing the goods tobe packaged is being ejected in the other end. This is of cause arational and possible use of the invention. The invention is howeveralso suitable for being used such that the packaging material is shapedmore or less into a finished package, for example leaving an end open.At a later stage or even at another location the package is thereafterfilled with the goods to be packaged and sealed.

The inventive features for being able to carry out the inventive methodas discussed above are set out in the dependent embodiments

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1-5 illustrates various embodiments of a package according to theinvention;

FIG. 6 illustrates the perforator tool adjacent a side flap former;

FIG. 7 illustrates the last step in the production process;

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the fin and rollers creating the side flap;

FIG. 10 illustrates a string of finished packages according to theinvention.

FIG. 11 is substantially identical to FIG. 7, illustrating a furtherembodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment where the flap is a separate member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1-5 is illustrated various examples of a package provided withthe perforation and thereby the easy opening feature according to thepresent invention.

In FIG. 1 the package generally indicated by number 1 is in its mostbasic configuration. The material sheet 2 has been formed into a packagewhich package 1 is delimited by cross seals 3, 4 in either end of thepackage 1. With reference to FIGS. 7 and 10 the definition of crossseals and the overall direction of the package are determined accordingto the manner in which the package is produced.

As is evident from FIGS. 7 and 10 the packages are formed from an intheory endless material sheet 1 which by means of a former notillustrated shapes the sheet into a tube. The tube is created forexample by welding together sheet material adjacent the two edges 5, 6of the sheet material thereby creating a tube and at the same timecreating a side flap 10, see FIG. 1.

After the side flap 10 has been created the tube will be sealed with thecross seals 3, 4 in order to create a space limited by the formed tubeand the cross seals 3, 4.

In order to be able to easily open the package, perforations or cut-outs7 are provided. In the embodiment illustrated with reference to FIG. 1perforations 7 are provided at both ends of the side flap 10, but thesame advantages are achievable with only one perforation 7 provided ateither end of the side flap.

The perforations 7 are provided parallel to and adjacent the side flap10 and has an extent in the longitudinal direction of the packageindicated by the arrow 50 such that the entire perforation is maintainedwithin the limits of the cross seal 3 such that no opening is providedfrom the interior of the package 1 to the ambient.

In FIG. 4 is indicated a situation where the corner 11 of the side flap10 has been lifted relative to the package whereby a tear 8 initiated bythe perforation 7 makes it possible to create an easy and substantiallystraight opening of the package.

As indicated by reference number 12 the lower material layer remainsintact and only the top surface material sheet 13 is ruptured.

In the embodiment illustrated with reference to FIG. 1 these types ofpackages are typically manufactured on a so-called horizontal form, filland seal machine (FFS) whereas the package 9 illustrated with referenceto FIG. 2 typically will be manufactured on a vertical FFS machine wherethe edges 5′, 6′ will be mutually overlapping and creating a connectionseal 20, such that the formation of the tube from the material sheet 2does not provide a side flap 10. In this case the side flap may beprovided by installing a side flap former as illustrated with referenceto FIGS. 8 and 9.

Turning to FIG. 8 a former/filling pipe 14 is illustrated. The materialsheet (not illustrated) will at this point be surrounding the formerpipe and has been provided with the connection seal 20 (see FIG. 2) suchthat the material sheet at this stage will be in the shape of a tube.The tube is arranged outside the former/filling pipe 14 and as the tubeadvances downwards in FIG. 8 the tube will engage the fin 15 such that afold will be created in the sheet material. As the material advancesfurther the fold will be squeezed between the two rollers 16, 17 whichare biased towards each other. Depending on the type of material used toform the package, the fold may be sealed either by providing an adhesivenozzle just downstream of the fin 15 before the rollers 16, 17 such thatthe rollers squeeze together the fold and thereby the adhesive coatedinner portions of the material sheet (here shaped into a tube) therebycreating the side flap 10. Alternatively, where the sheet material issuitable to be welded the rollers 16, 17 may be welding rollers suchthat by heating the rollers the fold will be fused together in a weldingprocess thereby creating the side flap 10.

Consequently, returning to FIG. 2 a side flap 10 as well as perforations7 are provided exactly corresponding to the embodiment described withreference to FIG. 1.

In FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the combination of different techniquesillustrated. The cross seals 3, 4 are manufactured in the same manner asthe embodiments described above which will be further described withreference to FIG. 6 and a longitudinal seal 18 is furthermore providedin order to connect the edges 5″, 6″ such that a sealed package 2 iscreated. In this manner the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 so farcorresponds completely to the embodiment illustrated with reference toFIG. 1.

In some instances, however, it is desirable to be able to position thelongitudinal seal 18 independently of the position where it is desirableto open the package, and therefore a side flap 10 manufactured asdescribed with reference to FIG. 2 is provided at a different location,where the side flap 10 is provided adjacent the perforations 7 therebyproviding the novel and inventive easy tear open feature of this type ofpackages. For practical purposes the seal 18 may further be fastened tothe surface of the package material and fastened to the cross seals 3, 4such that a user may not mistakenly try to open the package by pullingon the edge seal 18.

A further embodiment is illustrated with reference to FIG. 5 where apackage has been opened by tearing at the side flap 10 thereby providingaccess to the interior of the package. The perforation 7 has beendivided such that half the perforation is present on the side flap 10and half the perforation 7 is present of the package itself. Thispackage has furthermore been provided with a resealing strip 20 arrangedat what is now the bottom part of the side flap and parallel to thelongitudinal direction 50 (see FIG. 1). By overlapping the side flap 10with the front of the package 19 it is possible by pressing theresealable seal 20 against the surface 19 to reseal the package andthereby maintain the remainder of the content of the package inside thepackage.

The type of material used for the resealable seal 20 may be chosenaccording to the circumstances depending on the sheet material and thequality of the resealing properties which it is desired to achieve. Theseal 20 may be selected from the so-called pealable materials or maysimply be a double-sided, adhesive tape or the like as long as itfulfills the requirement of being able to hold down the side flap 10 inrelation to the surface 19 of the package.

In these embodiments it is possible to create stronger and more robustpackages with the present technology, than what is otherwise achievablewith conventional peel-technology. By providing the peel strips to thematerial sheet, where the peel material has less peel ability, theperforation (easy open facility) will make it easier to open thepackage. In this manner the weak peel connection may be made stronger asthe perforation will aid in opening the package, whereby stronger andmore robust packages may be produced, without sacrificing thepeelabillity.

Turning to FIG. 6 a schematic illustration of how the perforation 7 ismanufactured is illustrated. The package material 2 has, prior to themethod step illustrated with reference to FIG. 6 been arranged aroundthe former such that a tube is created. The tube has an interior space21 delimited by the package material 2. Furthermore the two edges of thepackage material 5, 6 is arranged to be introduced between two rollers22, 23. The rollers may be heated such that they will weld the packagematerial 2 together forming the side flap 10 as already described above.Alternatively, a nozzle providing adhesive material to the inside of theedges 5, 6 may be provided just upstream of the rollers 22, 23 such thatthe rollers 22, 23 which are biased towards each other, will press thetwo edge portions together thereby creating the side flap 10. Thepackage material moves in the direction 51 indicated by the arrow, andthe directions “upstream”, “downstream” are defined relatively to thisdirection of movement of the package material 2.

Markers (not illustrated) may be provided on the surface of the packagematerial 2 such that as a detection unit detects/registers a marker thisregistration will be used as input for the perforation tool of whichonly the cutting blade 24 actually carrying out the cutting of theperforation is illustrated. These markers are usually present on printedsheets materials, in order to locate the print correctly to the cuttingzone, separating two packages. The input from the marker registrationmeans is used in order to activate the perforation tool such that thecutting blade 24 may be moved up and down repeatedly as indicated by thearrow 52 whereby the cutting blade cuts a perforation 7 at predeterminedpositions. These predetermined positions are decided relative to themarker such that the perforation as indicated on the lower side of theside flap 10, crosses the separating line 25. The separating lines areprovided as shear lines where the different packages may be separatedinto individual packages such that as two packages 1′, 1″ are separated,the perforation 7 will be present parallel to the side flap 10 andextending from the edge of the package, which edge is created by theseparating line 25 and into the cross seal (not illustrated). In FIG. 6it has been chosen not to illustrate the cross seals in order to clarifythe position of the perforations in relation to the separating lines.The packages created by the method described with reference to FIG. 6will have a general appearance as illustrated with reference to FIGS.1-5 and as described above.

The perforation may also be one-sided, i.e. such that a perforation 7′as illustrated above the side-flap 10 is only present on one side of theseparation line and thereby only in one place on the finished package.

As the package material proceeds from the method step illustrated withreference to FIG. 6 the package material 2 has been turned into a tubeon which tube's surface a side-flap 10 is provided and perforations 7are established parallel to the longitudinal direction of the side-flapadjacent or crossing the separating lines 25 where it is intended toseparate the packages 1′, 1″.

As the tube proceeds it will be subjected to method steps described withreference to FIG. 7. The material sheet formed into a tube by the methodstep in FIG. 6 proceeds towards a sealing apparatus 30. The sealingapparatus will only be described very broadly, but any type of apparatuswhich is able to create the cross seals 3, 4 may be used with thepresent application. Furthermore, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG.7 the means for sealing 30 furthermore comprises means for separatingthe packages such that separate packages 1′, 1″ provided with crossseals 3, 4, a side-flap 10 and perforations 7 result from the action ofthe novel and inventive method and apparatus according to the presentinvention. The operation of the means for sealing 30 is carried out inresponse to the presence of the separating lines 25 such that the meansfor sealing 30 is activated in the direction indicated by the arrow 53such that the cross seals 3, 4 and the separation of the packages 1′, 1″is established in the correct positions in relation to the perforation 7and the overall package size.

The sealing means 30 may also be provided without means for separatingthe packages whereby a string of packages as illustrated with areference to FIG. 10 is the result such that a continuous array ofpackages 1′, 1″ separated by cross seals will be the result. Theseparating lines 25 indicated between the cross seals 3, 4 may forexample be perforations such that it is easy for a user to detach onepackage from an adjacent package or maybe partly cut such that it iseasy to detach one package from the next.

In FIG. 11 is illustrated a further embodiment, where a plurality ofperforations 60, 60′, 60″ are indicated. In the illustrated embodimentthree substantially parallel perforations are illustrated, but anynumber depending on the size of the package, the materials etc may beused. The perforations are identical to the perforations discussedabove. The perforations are illustrated as arranged substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal flap 10, but may also be arranged at anangle to the longitudinal direction of the flap. Angles up to approx.60° have proven to achieve the inventive effect. When the package, forexample as indicated by 1″ or 1′ is to be opened, the flap 10 shall bepulled away from the plane of the package, for example by gripping theflap in the area indicated by 56, and pulling in the direction indicatedby the arrow 62. The material from which the package 1″, 1′ is made willthen easily tear initiating the tear at one of the perforations 60, 60′or 60″. The tear will propagate towards the weld in the flap 10, whereafter the tear will follow the intersection between the flap 10 and theface 54 of the package.

In FIG. 12 is illustrated an embodiment where the flap 10 is welded ontothe sheet material 2, by the weld 26. The flap 10 is placed adjacent theperforation 60. Alternatively the flap could have been attached by meansof an adhesive. The connection between the flap 10 and the sheet 2 shallbe such that by pulling in the flap 10 the perforation 60 will initiatea tear, without the flap 10 being pulled off.

Above the invention has been described in embodiments where the sealsare created either by heating thereby welding or fusing the materiallayers together, or applying adhesives in order to create the seals.Particularly the latter, i.e. the adhesive solution is used for a numberof purposes, but of particular interest are applications where theobjects or material to be package are not suitable to be heated, or thatthere may be a risk that an adhesive spray may have a detrimental effecton the characteristics of the object/material.

One such example is chocolates. For these applications a cold sealtechnique has been developed, where an adhesive is applied to the edgesto be joined prior to arranging the sheet material in the packagingmachine. The surface of the adhesive is dry and non-stick. However whenthe areas coated with the cold seal adhesive are placed facing eachother and subjected to pressure, for example by being placed between tworollers biased towards each other, an adhesive seal is formed. Inaddition to pressure heat may be applied, but much less than in awelding process.

This sealing technology may also be used within the present invention inorder to establish the seals.

1. Method of manufacturing a package of the type formed from asingle-layer or multi-layer material sheet, where said package has aneasy to open feature, where the material sheet is shaped into thefinished package having an inner side suitable to be in contact with thematter to be packaged and an outer side, where said method comprises thefollowing method steps: forming the material sheet into a tube, byconnecting the two side edges of the sheet longitudinally; where theconnection creates a side flap on the outside of the tube or where thetube is passed over a former having a projecting fin, whereby a sideflap is formed on the outside of the tube, or where a fin is attachedlongitudinally to the outside of the tube; where cross seals areprovided across the tube, thereby delimiting each package between twocross seals; that perforation lines are established in said cross seals,for detaching/separating two adjacent packages; that a perforation ofonly one material sheet layer or only one or more layers making up thesheet, is established adjacent the side flap or fin, extending from theperforation line and parallel to, or at an angle up to 60° relative tothe side flap or fin, and extending towards or into the cross seal. 2.Method according to claim 1 wherein the perforation of the one sheetmaterial layer is made either in: an un-sealed part of one sheetmaterial projecting between the cross seal and the perforation lineseparating two adjacent packages; or in the unsealed part and part ofthe cross seal; or where the cross seal is immediately adjacent theperforation line between two adjacent packages, only in the cross seal.3. Method according to claim 1 wherein the perforation of the one sheetmaterial layer is established by a perforation tool selected from one ormore of the following: a cutter or a rotating cutter head, controlled inrelation to the production speed, where the cutter head has a pluralityof spaced cutting edges, cooperating with a land, where the land isplaced such that the material passes between the cutter and the land,whereby activation of the cutter establishes the perforation in thematerial, which material during cutting is in contact with said land; alaser device, where the positioning of the perforation is locatedrelative to markers provided on the sheet material, corresponding to thedesired package size, where means are provided for detecting saidmarkers and using this information as input for activating theperforation tool.
 4. Method according to claim 1, wherein two separatematerial sheets are formed into a tube, by superposing the sheets andconnecting the edges of the superposed sheets, such that a tube isformed having side seals along the longitudinal edges.
 5. Methodaccording to claim 1 wherein a plurality of substantially parallelperforations of one sheet material layer or one or more material layersmaking up the sheet material, is established in the cross seal adjacentthe perforation line and parallel to or at an angle up to 60° relativeto the side flap.
 6. Method according to claim 1 wherein cross seals areonly provided in one end of each package, such that as the packages areseparated into separate packages along the perforation lines, eachpackage will be open in one end.
 7. Method according to claim 1 wherethe flap is a separate piece of sheet material attached to the outsideof the tube, where the flap is fastened by means such that theconnection between the flap and the tube is stronger than the tearingstrength needed when initiating a tear with the perforation.
 8. Avertical or horizontal form, fill and seal machine for forming packages,where said machine comprises means to convey a continuous sheet materialthrough the machine, where said machine comprises means for creating atleast one side flap on the package and where said machine furthercomprises means for establishing sealed cross zones extendingsubstantially laterally to the side flap and means for establishingseparating lines, where said separating lines are established in saidcross zones wherein the sealed cross zones have at least a two sheetmaterial layer thickness, and that the machine comprises a perforationtool which perforation tool perforates one of the at least two sheetmaterial layers adjacent and substantially parallel to or at an angle upto 60° relative to said side flap, and where the perforation extendsinside said sealed cross zone, and that the perforation at least extendsto the separating line.
 9. A form, fill and seal machine according toclaim 8 wherein means for detecting and/or determining the separatingline is provided, where said means provide input to the perforationtool, such that the activation of the perforation tool is carried out inresponse to the position of the separating line.
 10. A form, fill andseal machine according to claim 8 wherein the perforation tool isactivated such that it perforates one sheet material layer, a distanceon either side of the separating line.
 11. A form, fill and seal machineaccording to claim 8 wherein the width of the seals is between 3 mm and50 mm, more preferred between 5 mm and 20 mm and most preferred between7 mm and 12 mm.
 12. A form, fill and seal machine according to claim 8wherein the machine comprises tube forming means for forming the sheetmaterial into a tube, and where a fin extending radially from thesurface of the tube forming means is provided upstream and adjacent twoheatable rollers, such that as the tube passes the fin a longitudinalflap is shaped in the tube, and the rollers squeeze the flap togetheroptionally welding the material of the tube together.
 13. A form, filland seal machine according to claim 8 wherein the perforation tool is acutting blade, a laser cutter, a puncher, or a heat cutter or anycombination of these means, and that optionally opposite the perforationtool a back plate is arranged as land for the perforation tool, wherethe arrangement of the back plate and the perforation tool allows thepackaging material to pass between said perforation tool and said backplate.
 14. Package of the type produced on a horizontal or verticalform, fill and seal machine according to claim 8, where said package ismade from a sheet material and has a side flap along the length of saidpackage, and is further provided with cross seals arranged laterally tosaid side flap in either end of the package, where said seals at leastincludes two sheet material layers, where at least, in a section of onecross seal substantially parallel or up to an angle of 60° relative tosaid side flap, a perforation is provided where said perforationperforates one material layer, and where said perforation is providedadjacent said side flap, and where the perforation extends to the freeedge of the package.
 15. Package according to claim 14, wherein aplurality of substantially parallel perforations are provided, mutuallyspaced, optionally on both sides of the flap.